Nonlinear Finite-Element Analysis for Structural Investigation and Preservation of Reinforced Hybrid Thin Tile–Concrete Domes of the Historic School of Ballet Classrooms in Havana, Cuba
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 37, Issue 1
Abstract
The striking tiled domes of the Ballet School of the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana are internationally acclaimed Cuban architectural icons. However, due to their deceptive tiled appearance and their only recently rediscovered hybrid tile–concrete constructive system, the domes have eluded the structural study and characterization which increasingly is demanded not only because of their unique morphology and monumental status, but also because of their visible damage. This work defined a suitable numerical analysis method for diagnosing these hybrid structures by applying both linear elastic and nonlinear, using the concrete damaged plasticity constitutive model, numerical analyses. A site investigation campaign provided materials and geometric data that informed the model creation and damage documentation that validated the analyses results. A new synthesis of architectural and technical sources covering the development and spread of the hybrid structural system allowed the ISA domes to be placed, for the first time, in their proper structural context and, consequently, for their conception and design to be understood more fully. The analyses, construction records, and site tests indicated a rebar placement error as the primary structural damage cause, and the contextual analysis informed a discussion of its possible sources, both technical and managerial. Because the investigation indicated significant risk of irreversible damage or failure without timely intervention, preliminary intervention explorations were conducted and, based on the holistic understanding of the structures, the technically, architecturally, and culturally optimal solution was identified. The study concluded that the homogeneous solids model, coupled with the concrete damaged plasticity mechanical model, yields realistic and insightful results illuminating the structural behavior, efficiency, condition or status, and collapse mode of the domes, providing necessary insight for the preservation planning for the Ballet School domes, which also will inform the study and understanding of other structures of similar composition and significance.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
Funding for this work was provided by the Getty Foundation (Grant No. R-ORG-201839332) and Princeton University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Many thanks are given to the Assorestauro partners who provided the site data for the model creation: Zenith Ingegneria, and SPC Engineering. The critical modeling assistance of Jessica Chen and Antti Valkonen is greatly appreciated. Antonio D’Altri provided essential suggestions for improving the FEA. Deepest thanks are owed to ISA and the Cuban project partners who facilitated the site visits and many other aspects of the study. The simulations presented in this article were performed substantially on computational resources managed and supported by Princeton Research Computing, a consortium including the Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering and the Office of Information Technology’s High Performance Computing Center and Visualization Laboratory at Princeton University.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 37 • Issue 1 • February 2023
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 7, 2021
Accepted: Aug 4, 2022
Published online: Nov 21, 2022
Published in print: Feb 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Apr 21, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Architectural engineering
- Architecture
- Building management
- Buildings
- Domes (structure)
- Elastic analysis
- Engineering fundamentals
- Facilities (by type)
- Historic preservation
- Hybrid methods
- Linear analysis
- Methodology (by type)
- Public buildings
- School buildings
- Structural analysis
- Structural engineering
- Structural systems
- Structures (by type)
Authors
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